Women Encouraged to Eat in Labor

Last year the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) joined with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in saying that eating in labor is beneficial. The anesthesiologists, considered the strictest of the strict when it comes to oral intake in labor, talked about changes that they have made for labor and delivery guidelines and the use of anesthesia, including epidurals. The highlights of the changes include:

• Clear liquids are now allowed during labor for low risk women.

• Women with non-emergent cesareans can have "modest" amounts of clear liquids before surgery.

• Women don't have to reach a certain dilation before epidurals are given.

• Epidurals and spinals are the preferred anesthesia for cesarean sections.

These are all great news for laboring women, particularly the clear liquids for laboring women. Since it has long been known that women are happier and more comfortable in labor when allowed to eat or drink something, even when we restrict what they want, most women really don't want anything but clear liquids.

However, it's been a year and I'm not sure I've seen a change in labor and delivery. Are you allowed to eat a labor diet where you give birth?

Related:

Pain Relief on Demand | Eating in Labor | Labor Basics

_{Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia: An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia, Anesthesiology:Volume 106(4)April 2007pp 843-863.}

_{Providing Oral Nutrition to Women in Labor, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health - May 2008 (Vol. 53, Issue 3, Pages 276-283, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2008.03.006)}